The Raven: symbol (grief) as "Nevermore" : ellipsis

After Mr. Tangen’s surprised facial expression caused by the AP Literature students´ignorance on symbols, we were assigned to read The Raven. The poem’s obvious symbol is the raven, yet the difficult aspect of the task is comprehending what it represents. In order to do execute close-reading on the poem I followed the five steps a reader must perform when analyzing literature.

The Main characteristics one must have:

Rigorous – do not skip any fragment of the text. Reading is a discipline.

Fastidious- be attentive to detail. Be attentive to the authors writing in a keen manner.

Optimistic- Consider the piece was completely done thoughtfully. Believe that patterns on structure among other literary techniques and devices were intentionally created.

The Steps

1. Read it more than once

2. Mark it up- love-what?-

3. Read last part

4. Go back to the beginning

5. Scheme for final picture

I began the journey on Poe’s writing with a dictionary by my side, I knew his vocabulary is key to understand the poem better. I was restrained from reading the stanzas fluidly, however, I wanted to be rigorous on my analysis.

Example # 1: Rigorous reading

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.” (the raven)

In order to recognize the poem’s figurative meaning of the raven I had to read it several times looking up for the definition of every unknown word I found on the way. I underlined these words throughout the whole piece and read poem several times.

Example # 2: being “fastidious”

When I finished the poem I had clearly identified it’s structure was divided into two parts: the narrators tale and description of the night and the conversation he has with the raven. This was a proof of how detailed one should be when analyzing literature. This characteristic is evidently linked with “being optimistic” while reading.

Example # 3: Optimistic readers

As previously stated The Raven is divided structurally speaking into two parts: the narrator’s description of the setting and later, his encounter with the raven. This emphasizes the importance of the raven and proves to us its symbolic meaning: grief. To argument the meaning of the raven one could support it with the desperate tone and mysterious mood Poe stresses in the poem. Another example could be the narrator’s “irrational” conversation with a bird, portraying his desperation and constant need of answers for Lenore’s death. Lenore being his lover or someone he cares for, constantly mentioned throughout the poem. The “nevermore” repetition serves as an ellipsis to the poem or aposiopesis in terms of what the narrator’s soliloquy portrays as mourning vehemently. Therefore, one can conclude the raven symbolizes grief and it was intentionally created to portray this idea.

The following link provides a similar analysis. It is more informal but I consider it another interesting approach to The Raven.

http://www.gotpoetry.com/News/article/sid=1518.html